Politecnico di Milano carries out an employment survey on PhD graduates, in order to understand the value of the PhD on the job market.
The present survey was conducted between the end of January and the beginning of February 2023, through mixed methodology (CAWI: online and CATI: phone). The Ph.Ds were asked to answer a multiple -choice survey of about 20 questions. Answered the survey
Employement Survey on Ph.D graduates 4-5 years after degree completion
CAWI: online CATI: by phone
20 QUESTION SURVEY
SAMPLE: PHD CLASS OF 2017/2018
396 178
274
109 Obtained their Ph.D
PHD EMPLOYMENT
PHD EMPLOYMENT: 4-5 YEARS AFTER
IN WHICH SECTOR?
ARE EMPLOYEES
43% 56%
PUBLIC SECTOR PRIVATE SECTOR
4-5 years after obtaining a PhD at the Politecnico, 97% of the interviewed are employed and most (88%) are employees. The main job market is Italy, while 34% choose to go abroad to find better job opportunities. They work in both the public sector and private sector.
66% WHERE DO THEY WORK?
34%
ABROAD
They go abroad: For better career prospects 24% For personal/family reasons 22%
* PERCENTAGE CALCULATED ON THE ACTIVE POPULATION (EMPLOYED + UNEMPLOYED IN SEARCH OF A NEW OR FIRST EMPLOYMENT) For a lack of opportunities in Italy 30%
PhDs who are employed in the public sector mostly work at universities. They work mainly in fields such as research and teaching. They are researchers, professors. Salaries reach as high as 2,300 euros per month.
For those who work in the public sector, satisfaction with the doctoral course of studies and the university is very high.
WOULD CHOOSE TO DO THEIR PHD AGAIN
HAVE A JOB THAT FITS WITH THEIR STUDIES
HAVE A JOB THAT REQUIRES
A PHD
SAMPLE: 159 people interviewed
PHD EMPLOYMENT: PRIVATE SECTOR
PUBLIC SECTOR PRIVATE SECTOR 43%
COMPANY SIZE * (N° EMPLOYEES)
52% (1-250*)
14% (251-1.000*)
33% (+ 1.000*)
TYPE OF CONTRACT
93% PERMANENT
5%
2% FIXED-TERM
PROJECT/COORDINATED AND CONTINUOUS
€2,672 MONTHLY NET SALARY
SAMPLE:
The private sector offers stable contracts (93% permanent) and good salaries (about monthly 300 euros more than in the public sector).
They work either in small companies (52%) or big companies (48%).
They are satisfied with their studies (81%), they would choose to do a PhD again at the Politecnico (84%). Many of those interviewed say their job does not necessarily require a PhD.
WOULD CHOOSE TO DO THEIR
PHD AGAIN
HAVE A JOB THAT FITS WITH THEIR STUDIES
HAVE A JOB THAT REQUIRES
A PHD
43% PUBLIC SECTOR
TYPE OF CONTRACT
MONTHLY NET SALARY
42%
WOULD CHOOSE TO DO THEIR PHD AGAIN
HAVE A JOB THAT FITS WITH THEIR STUDIES
HAVE A JOB THAT REQUIRES A PHD
19% POSTDOC RESEARCHER
14% ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR
€2,347
94% 84% 86%
56% PRIVATE SECTOR
93% PERMANENT
€2,672 81% 46% 84%
TYPE OF CONTRACT
HAVE A JOB THAT REQUIRES A PHD WOULD CHOOSE TO DO THEIR PHD AGAIN MONTHLY NET SALARY
HAVE A JOB THAT FITS WITH THEIR STUDIES
FOCUS BY AREA
ARCHITECTURE
ENGINEERING DESIGN
ARCHITECTURE
PHD COURSES
Architectural Urban Interior Design
Architecture, Built Environment and Construction Engineering
Preservation of the Architectural Heritage
Urban Planning, Design, and Policy
€2,224 MONTHLY NET SALARY
SAMPLE: 72 people interviewed, 66 employed (of which 39 in public sector)
In the Architectural area, 4-5 years after graduation, PhD graduates mainly work in the public sector (59%). Among these and in particular 49% work at Politecnico di Milano. As reserchers.
The average monthly salary is about 2,200 euros.
The Italian market remains the most relevant market (77%) even 4- 5 years after. Overall they are quite satisfied with their Phd path.
DESIGN
PHD COURSE
Design
SECTOR
COMPANY SIZE * (N° EMPLOYEES) PRIVATE SECTOR
TYPE OF CONTRACT 100% PERMANENT WHERE DO THEY WORK? 30% ABROAD 70% ITALY
€2,725 MONTHLY NET SALARY
SAMPLE: 17 people interviewed, 17 employed (of which 10 in private sector)
All Design PhD graduates are employed 4-5 years after.
Over 50% work in the private sector with a stable contract (100% permanent).
They mainly work in Italy (70%) in small companies (60% SME) with a monthly salary of 2,700 euros.
They are very satisfied with the preparation obtained during the doctoral programme (94%). HAVE A JOB THAT FITS WITH THEIR STUDIES
ENGINEERING
PHD COURSES
Aerospace Engineering
Bioengineering
Electrical Engineering
Energy and Nuclear Science and Technology
Environmental and Infrastructure Engineering
Industrial Chemistry and Chemical Engineering
Information Technology
Management Engineering
Materials Engineering
Mathematical Models and Methods in Engineering
Mechanical Engineering
Physics
Structural Seismic and Geotechnical Engineering
SECTOR PUBLIC SECTOR
€2,382
SAMPLE: 294 people interviewed, 289 employed (of which 113 in public sector)
SAMPLE:
4-5 years after, PhD graduates in the Engineering Area are mainly employed in the private sector (60%)
Where contracts are more often permanent (92%) and salaries are higher (about 280 euros more per month)
In the public sector, PhDs are more satisfied with the professional outcome and studies.
WOULD CHOOSE TO DO THEIR
PHD AGAIN AT POLITECNICO
TYPE OF CONTRACT
SAMPLE: 294 people interviewed, 289 employed (of which 172 in public sector) EMPLOYMENT 98%
SECTOR
€2,669 MONTHLY NET SALARY 92% PERMANENT
COMPANY SIZE
* (N° EMPLOYEES)
WOULD CHOOSE TO DO THEIR PHD AGAIN AT POLITECNICO
HAVE A JOB THAT FITS WITH THEIR STUDIES
SAMPLE: employed in Private sector
HAVE A JOB THAT REQUIRES
A PHD
GENDER VIEW
GENDER VIEW
ARCHITECTURE
€2,500 €2,306
MONTHLY NET SALARY
SAMPLE: 72 people interviewed, 66 employed
EMPLOYED
€3,313
SAMPLE: 17 people interviewed, 17 employed PHD EMPLOYMENT FOCUS BY AREA
€2,404
The doctoral programme in Design is populated mostly by women (76%). The number of respondents was very low (17 people interviewed) so the data only provide qualitative results.
GENDER VIEW
€2,640
ENGINEERING
SAMPLE: 294 people interviewed, 289 employed
MONTHLY NET SALARY
€2,342
A strong gender gap is observable in the difference in salaries between women and men who have a PhD, 4-5 years after degree completion. In the Engineering area, this difference remains, although there is close to no difference in percentage between those employed in the public and private sector.
2023 Employment Survey on Ph.Ds who graduated at Politecnico di Milano in 2017 and 2018. The survey is carried out by the Career Service in collaboration with the Statistical Analysis, Evaluation and Accreditation Support Office and the Alumni Association of Politecnico di Milano.
